Linga Schrijn in de grotten van Elefanta c. 1895 - 1915

This photogravure by Clifton & Co. captures the Linga Shrine in the Elephanta Caves and feels like a study in texture and light. The way the light catches on the rough-hewn stone, it’s as if the artists were feeling their way through the dark, chiseling out shapes from the void. I’m drawn to the columns, how they rise from the ground, worn and softened over time, yet still holding up the weight of the mountain. Look closely and you can almost see the hand of the sculptor in every mark, every groove. The figures themselves are shadowy and mysterious, emerging from the rock face like half-formed memories. It reminds me of the work of artists like Eva Hesse, who embraced the imperfections and irregularities of their materials. It is a celebration of the process, the physicality of making, and the beauty of impermanence.